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America is a warfare/welfare state. In fiscal year 2010, the Federal government spent $3.5 trillion. Warfare and welfare made up the vast bulk of the spending. In fact, 75 percent of the total United States budget goes to making war or paying people to do nothing.
About 20 percent of that $3.5 trillion — $705 billion — went to defense and “security-related” international activities. That’s governmentspeak for nation-destroying/woman- and-child-killing-bombing/nation-building/installing-dictators-friendly-to-the-U.S.-and-paying-them-to-oppress-their-people-in-the-phony-war-on-terror activities. Out of that $705 billion, about $170 billion financed the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq
Social Security received another 20 percent of the spending pie. About $707 billion went for retirement benefits for 34.6 million workers and 19.5 million spouses and children of retired workers, surviving children and spouses of deceased workers and disabled workers and their dependents.
Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) consumed about 21 percent of the budget, or $732 billion.
Another 14 percent — $496 billion — went to other safety-net programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, school meals, low-income housing assistance, child care assistance and other social programs.
This means that 75 percent of the total United States budget goes to making war or paying people to do nothing.
They all need whittling down. We are not as far from a Greece, as we'd like to think. Once the trend is up, or down for that matter, the degree of slope tends to increase quickly. In other words, the growth in costs, or decrease in costs, will increase dramatically after a certain point. This is the decade the cows all come home for the U.S., all three areas are brought under control. None of the choices will be easy.
They all need whittling down. We are not as far from a Greece, as we'd like to think. Once the trend is up, or down for that matter, the degree of slope tends to increase quickly. In other words, the growth in costs, or decrease in costs, will increase dramatically after a certain point. This is the decade the cows all come home for the U.S., all three areas are brought under control. None of the choices will be easy.
We are worse off than Greece!!! Seriously look it up.
What is saving us, is we get to print money to pay our bills(the hidden tax on the middle class), Greece doesn't have that option.
thanks bent...i didn't purposely, or ignorantly undersell the severity of our situation...you are certainly right about printing $...but that too has run its course...now we are at dimensioning returns there too...the dollar buys less and less...
America is a warfare/welfare state. In fiscal year 2010, the Federal government spent $3.5 trillion. Warfare and welfare made up the vast bulk of the spending. In fact, 75 percent of the total United States budget goes to making war or paying people to do nothing.
About 20 percent of that $3.5 trillion — $705 billion — went to defense and “security-related” international activities. That’s governmentspeak for nation-destroying/woman- and-child-killing-bombing/nation-building/installing-dictators-friendly-to-the-U.S.-and-paying-them-to-oppress-their-people-in-the-phony-war-on-terror activities. Out of that $705 billion, about $170 billion financed the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq
Social Security received another 20 percent of the spending pie. About $707 billion went for retirement benefits for 34.6 million workers and 19.5 million spouses and children of retired workers, surviving children and spouses of deceased workers and disabled workers and their dependents.
Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) consumed about 21 percent of the budget, or $732 billion.
Another 14 percent — $496 billion — went to other safety-net programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, school meals, low-income housing assistance, child care assistance and other social programs.
This means that 75 percent of the total United States budget goes to making war or paying people to do nothing.
You're waaaay off base bud. Firstly, the 20% budget allocation you referenced is the whole budget for sustaining our military. less than 5% was spent on bombing civilians , don't overshoot to make a point.
Secondly, categorizing Social Security and Medicaid as "wellfare" is rediculous. Sure we spent over 40% of revenues on these "entitlements", but, and this is a big but, payroll taxes accounted for 40% of our revenues as well. Taxing the hell out of companies and employees through a mandatory FICA witholding, then calling money spent on the programs FICA is supposed to fund "welfare" is rediculous.
We can be more judicious waging war and cut 5% or more. We can cut SS and Medicare as well, just send me a check, with interest, for all the money I've been pumping in over the years.
Secondly, categorizing Social Security and Medicaid as "wellfare" is rediculous.
Medicaid IS welfare. Social Security and Medicare are not. Social Security and Medicare are severely mismanaged government-mandated social insurance programs in which those receiving benefits have been paying premiums for years.
Given the magnitude of the mismanagement, why would anyone ever trust the government to handle ALL medical care?
Medicaid IS welfare. Social Security and Medicare are not. Social Security and Medicare are severely mismanaged government-mandated social insurance programs in which those receiving benefits have been paying premiums for years.
Given the magnitude of the mismanagement, why would anyone ever trust the government to handle ALL medical care?
A certain collective class, benefits while others don't, is welfare.
I guess it is not welfare because
A subsidized life, where you are taxed more than you get back
Instead of, paying no taxes, and getting all kind of privileges and benefits, paid for by those having taxes taken from them.
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, don't overshoot to make a point.
